1. Do you have to be a member of a particular faith to believe in God?
2. How do you define god?

You're looking for peoples opinions. That has merit if you are conducting a survey I guess. I personally find that kind of discussion lacking a bit of depth. I prefer the other point of view.

Do you have to be a member of a particular faith to have accurate knowledge of God?

What does God say about who he is?

This post has been edited by CrazyDwarf: Dec 22 2007, 01:58 PM

My Invisible Thoughts, while it's only my opinion, I do believe for many the answer to your question is yes. People can, and do, believe in God without being religious.

If someone believes in a higher power (God) and doesn't attend Church nor read the Bible (even once), this surely doesn't take away from the reality that they have Faith in God yet choose to not be 'religious'?

Fair enough - let's see what answers we get to these questions...

That would be me to a "t"

Hebrews 8:10-12

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'know the Lord', because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. "

This new covenant has Christ Jesus as the High Priest, after his resurrection and ascension.

By this statement by God, all men will know God from birth. Acceptance - that's up to you.

The way I'm reading that passage, it is not all mankind, but the house of Isreal (expanded to include those grafted in by Christ) that will know the law in their heart (due to the indwelling of the holy spirit).

You need to study your Bible more. After Christ's death and resurrection, the House of Israel was opened to include all mankind, including Gentiles(non Jews) God wants everyone to go to heaven. Not just this race or that religion.

This post has been edited by Vicki: Jan 29 2008, 08:42 AM

Religon is simply acknowledging that their is something divine or greater than you. For me merely
being believing in God without faith in the diety of Christ would not impact my life.

I don't believe you have to be as you say "religous" just to believe in a higher power.

What God do you believe in?

How do you except him?

How does he impact your life?

I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the father but by me. John 14:6

Perhaps I do need to study my bible more, but on this point I do not believe I am in error. I did include in my post those Jews and Gentiles grafted in by Christ, but that is not everyone. There are still unbelievers who are not grafted in to the House of Isreal. Your assertion that God wants people of all races is accurate, but not all religions. The bible is clear Christ is the only way. Those without him are not the House of Isreal.

One wonders whether a particular definition of God causes one to be religious or to be a part of one particular sect, or whether being in one sect causes one to have a particular definition of God. Perhaps there is a circle of reinforment, like the chicken and the egg.

On the other hand, is it conceivable that a definition of God might preclude participation in any kind of (formal) religion?. Perhaps because the latter all failed to adequately take into account one's own conception, or definition, of God. Or perhaps because one's definition made formal religion unnecessary or even an impedance.

One sometimes hears Another say, "Well, I have gone to many different churches, but I have not found one that suits me" or yet again, "I go to many different churches, since they all worship the same God just in different ways."
Z

Fifth, you are correct, again its back to choice. The choice to believe in in Christ or not. In this day and age you can't help but know of Christ. You trip over His image everywhere. For someone to say they have never heard of Christ is a fallacy.

Its that big ugly word everybody hates a christian to use - faith. That's all the proof we have. Nothing. Nothing you can hold in your hand or examine under a microscope.

I'm not a "Jesus Freak" (that would be my sister-in-law) but I do hold a very strong belief system. To me God, Jesus, and the Spirit are as real to me as the air I breathe.

Z. makes excellent points also. The whole concept of religion has be so distorted by man, that it becomes hard for the "non-religious" to want to become involved in it at all. The "God's going to send you to hell - if you don't tow the line" so goes against EVERYTHING Jesus taught us.

From the persecution of christians, to the inquisition, to the cruisades, to the catholic priest scandels, to the mega churches. All distortions by man. All evidence, to christians, of Satan weaving his evil spell by rotting religion from the inside out.

I've heard the term "Jesus Freak" my whole life. What does thar mean?? Is there different
levels of accepting Christ??

If you are talking about judging others I can see your point, because we are nobody's judge
God is clear on that.

I'm an alcholic and have been sober 6 years, but I don't attend church that often. I pray a
good bit, but some "RELIGOUS" people don't regard me as a Christian. I wouldn't be sober
without God, and I guess some people see my lack of attendance at church and my reckless past
to damaging. However most Christians who really know God don't judge me and can see the
turn around.

I guess my point is that I'm a Christian and some in the church don't view me as "RELIGOUS"

I am sure Vicki remembers that Jesus drove the money-lenders out of the Temple when she pointed out how some sects can rot religion from the inside out. And the Reformation was about turning away from the overly-worldy Church to recapture the inner, inward essence of the teachings of Jesus.
Luther translated the Bible into German so that the individual could understand God without being TOLD what to believe, or forced into one dogma over against another just by being born in a particular country. It is too bad that this attitude seems to have been forgotten by many sects that at one time drew their inspiration from these great reformers.
Z

jbeau - I commend you on your sobriety. Jesus sat down with tax collectors and whores. As a christian, I know I'm not perfect - Just forgiven. There is no difference to God - a sin is a sin, no matter what.

As to your question of "Jesus Freak" its usually those who everyword or aspect of there life is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. That's all well and good, if that works for you. But you will usually find they are hiding in Christ Jesus and not living in him - If that makes any sense.

To the comment Z made about Luther. As you know I am a Lutheran, I was raised to believe that the teachings of Martin Luther were the correct meaning of the Bible. But as every rebelous teen you must find out for yourself. So I looked into other denominations and found I preferred the teachings of Luther and the doctrine of the Lutheran LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) to the others. If anyone is interested here's a site to check out